The D.C. Council re-engaged in a decades-old fight Monday when it unanimously approved a resolution calling for the passage of the federal Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The
resolution was sponsored by council members Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4),
Yvette D. Alexander (D-Ward 7) and Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3), the three
women who serve on the council.

In arguing for passage of the
resolution, Bowser recounted the history of the amendment, which was
first devised in 1923 by suffragist Alice Paul. The House and Senate
both approved the amendment in 1972, but it was never ratified by
two-thirds of the states.

Although Bowser noted that the District
has among the toughest anti-discrimination protections in the nation,
she called on her colleagues to take a stand for women in other states.

“It’s
not the law across the country, therefore, this resolution gives
additional attention and much-needed focus to this important body of
work,” Bowser said.

By Tim Craig | 12:11 PM ET, 05/03/2011

(c) 2018 United for Equality, LCC -- all rights reserved.

Written permission is required for materials use with attribution and link to www.united4equality.com